RING-TAILED EAGLE. 467 
riedly, and contain greater mistakes in the nomenclature than any of the 
preceding ones; the descriptions, however, are alike vivid and well drawn 
In 1824, Mr. Ord, the personal friend of Wilson, undertook, at the request 
of the publisher, to improve these two parts; and they were accordingly 
re-published with that gentleman’s additions. We have thought it better 
to print from the original edition, as showing the true opinions of its author 
but have occasionally inserted, at the conclusion of the descriptions, the 
observations of Mr. Ord, taken from his reprint. — Ep.] 
RING-TAILED EAGLE.—FALCO FULVUS. —Fia. 217. 
Linn. Syst. 125.— Blaek Eagle, Arct. Zool. p. 195, No. 87. — Lath. i. 32, No. 6. 
— White-tailed Eagle, Edw. i. 1.—L’Aigle commun, Buff. i. 86. Pl. enl. 409, 
— Bewick, i. p. 49. — Turt. Syst. p. 145.— Peale’s Museum, No. 84. 
AQUILA CHRYSAETUS. — Wi..ovucusy.* 
Ayle royal, Temm. Mun. d’ Orn. i. p. 38.— Aquila chrysaétos, Flem. 138. — Zool. 
p. 52.— Golden Eagle, Selby, Hust. Br. Orn. pl. 1 and 2, the young and adult, 
part i. p. 4. — Aquila chrysaétos ? North. Zool.ii. p. 12.— Bonap. Synop. p. 24. 
Tue reader is now presented with a portrait of this celebrated 
Eagle, drawn from a fine specimen shot in the county of Mont- 
gomery, Pennsylvania. Fig. 217, here given, is strongly charac- 
teristic of its original. With respect to the habits of the species, 
such particulars only shall be selected as are well authenticated, 
rejecting whatever seems vague, or savors two much of the mar- 
vellous. 
* Wilson, like many other omithologists, imagined that the Ring-tailed and Gola 
en Eagles constituted two species. “Temminck, I believe, first asserted the fact 
of their being identical, and the attention of naturalists in this country was attracted 
to the circumstance, by the different opinions entertained by Mr. James Wilson and 
Mr. Selby. The latter gentleman has long since satisfactorily proved their identity, 
from observation, and the numerous specimens kept alive in various parts of Britain, 
have set the question completely at rest. The ing Tail is the young of the first 
year, and as such is correctly figured by our author. In a wild state, three years 
are required to complete the clouded barring, the principal mark of the adults, and 
which, even after that period, increase in darkness of color. When kept in confine- 
ment, the change is generally longer in taking place ; and I have seen it incomplete 
at six years. It commences by an extension of the bar at the end of the tail. and 
by additional cloudings on the white parts. which increase yearly until pertected. 
This bird does not seem very common in any part of America, and is even more 
rarely met with in the adult plumagé. It was found on the borders of the Rocky 
Mountains by the overland arctic expedition, and is known also on the plains of the 
Saskatchewan. 
The noble bearing and aspect of the Eagles and Falcons have always associated 
them, among rude nations, and in poetical comparisons, with the true courage of 
the warrior, and the magnanimity of the prince or chief. The young Indian war- 
rior glories in his Eagle’s plume, as the most honorable ornament with which he can 
adorn himself; the dress of a Highland Chieflain is incomplete without this badge 
of high degree. The feathers of the War Eagle are also used at the propitiatory 
sacrifices, and so highly are they prized, that a valuable horse is sometimes ex- 
changed for the tail of a single Hagle. — Ep 
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